By Our Reporter
Lagos State Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, has said Nigeria’s global perception is shifting from negative to positive, attributing it to the country’s recent economic reforms and initiatives by President Bola Tinubu.
Sanwo-Olu, however, expressed confidence that the state will set the pace for other states of the Federation in developmental strides in 2025.
The Governor, made the remarks on Sunday, at the 2025 Annual Thanksgiving Service of the Lagos State Government, themed: “Harvest of Thanksgiving,” held at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the changes underway in Nigeria, especially under the leadership of President Tinubu.
The Governor acknowledged the challenges faced by the nation and state in 2024 but emphasized the necessity of tough economic decisions.
According to him, “In 2024, we faced tough and difficult but necessary, decisions. Under the leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we tackled long overdue economic reforms to lay the foundation for the country of our dreams.”
While recognizing that the reforms had led to short-term hardships for many Nigerians, the governor remained optimistic, stating that the pain would soon give way to long-term benefits.
“We are already seeing the emerging shoots of the positive outcomes of these reforms. The harvest that awaits us as Nigerians, following our many sacrifices and perseverance, will be a very gratifying one,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the country’s growing public revenues and improving macroeconomic stability were signs of progress.
He also highlighted the positive impact of these changes on job creation, investments, and social welfare, stating that “the new national minimum wage is now being paid, with Lagos going beyond the minimum.”
The governor als mentioned the nation’s economic performance in 2024, citing the Nigerian stock market’s impressive performance, with the All-Share Index closing the year above the 100,000-mark.
He also listed Lagos’ infrastructure milestones, including the commissioning of the first phase of the Red Line and progress on the Blue Line project, along with the advancement of large-scale initiatives such as: the food and logistics park and a new children’s hospital, both among the largest in Africa.
Furthermore, Sanwo-Olu noted the significant influx of Nigerians from the diaspora, particularly in Lagos, which he described as a glimpse into the immense cultural and economic potential of the country.
“We have seen an exciting glimpse of the huge economic and cultural potential that lies in the enthusiastic homecoming of our people from around the world,” he said, urging efforts to tap into this potential in the years to come,” he stated.
The governor also commended private sector achievements, including the start of petrol production at the Dangote Refinery and the groundbreaking of the 12,000-seat Lagos Arena, which promises to redefine Nigeria’s arts and entertainment sector.
He further expressed confidence that Nigeria’s future, powered by the reforms, would be bright, with the country’s global image continuing to improve in the coming years.
On Lagos leading the pack of stares in 2025, Sanwo-Olu stated, “In Lagos State we are very mindful of this shared responsibility, and we will redouble our efforts in every sector, setting the pace for the rest of the country.
“We are keying into President’s Renewed Hope agenda, and by synergizing our own efforts with it, we will ensure that peace, progress and socio-economic prosperity are guaranteed for the good people of Lagos State.
“This new year, in addition to everything else we are already doing in the area of access to quality education and healthcare, security, environmental protection, wealth creation, social investment, women and youth development, and others, we will vigorously push ahead with efforts to mobilize the needed financing for ambitious projects like the new International Airport, the expansion of our municipal rail system, and construction of our food logistics hub.
“We will also scale up our work on the implementation of the new Lagos State Electricity Law of 2024, which is all about unbundling the electricity value chain and developing a sustainable electricity market for Lagos State which will deliver reliable and affordable power to our homes, offices, and industries.”